Verizon, Philly reach WiFi accommodation

Verizon and the city of Philadelphia have reached an agreement that will permit the city's WiFi project to go forward even if Pennsylvania passes a law that would give the carrier the power to "scuttle" the project, according to CNN.com. Key quote:

Even with a deal between Philadelphia and Verizon, the legislation, if
signed, would mean every other city and town in Pennsylvania would have
to give the local phone company right of first refusal before moving
forward with any plans to provide municipal Internet.

Under the legislation:

any political subdivision, such as
a city, after January 1, 2006, would have to get the permission of the
local telephone company to provide a telecommunications service for a
fee, including broadband Internet. If the company rejects the plan, it
would have to offer a similar service within 14 months.